Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report

April 20, 2017

Iman Shumpert stifled Indiana star Paul George helping his Cavaliers seize a 2-0 lead over Thaddeus Young and the Pacers … A key injury thrust Derrick Favors into a leading role for the Utah Jazz … Anthony Morrow and the Chicago Bulls are headed back to Chicago with a 2-0 series lead over top-seeded Boston … All of that and more can be found in this week’s Nissan #ProJackets Report.

Less than 20 seconds into the Utah Jazz’s first playoff game in five years, head coach Quin Snyder summoned a “doubly surprised” Derrick Favors from the bench to replace an injured Rudy Gobert. The power forward registered 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting in Saturday’s dramatic 97-95 win. The big man’s 32 minutes of playing time was his highest total in more than month. Gobert’s hyper-extended knee forced Favors into his second career playoff start on Tuesday night, and the Atlanta native delivered again, adding 13 points and seven rebounds. Now with the series tied at 1-1, Favors and the Jazz return to Salt Lake City for their first home playoff game since May 2012. Tip-off is at 10 p.m. ET Friday night on ESPN2.

Anthony Morrow and the Chicago Bulls have been the surprise of the playoffs, defeating the Celtics twice on the road. Morrow did not appear in either of Chicago’s first two wins over the East’s No. 1 seed. The series shifts from Boston to Chicago Friday night for a 7 p.m. ET tip on ESPN.

Iman Shumpert and the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken care of business by winning their first two games over the Indiana Pacers. The guard didn’t appear in the series opening game, a 109-108 win for Cleveland, but saw 20 minutes of action on Monday night. Shumpert added five points on 2-of-3 shooting and one steal in the 117-111 win. The modest stat line may be misleading given his second half “rise-from-the-ashes moment.” After J.R. Smith left the game with a hamstring injury, Shumpert locked down Pacers star Paul George while the Cavaliers seized a 19-point lead. LeBron James praised Shumpert in his postgame interview saying, “What I saw was a true professional. We needed it. We needed that energy from him.” Game 3 will be televised tonight on TNT beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

Thaddeus Young has done his part through two games although Indiana finds itself in an 0-2 hole against Cleveland. Young added eight points, nine steals and four assists in Game 1. On Monday night, the New Orleans native posted 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting with six steals. Young and the Pacers head home looking to even the series. Game 3 begins tonight at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.

“That’s my type of game.”@imanshumpert‘s defensive intensity provides spark to the @cavs pic.twitter.com/ucUsbwpHzb

— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) April 18, 2017

PLAYOFF SHUMPERT pic.twitter.com/eZ6VrLDh5d

— Dime on UPROXX (@DimeUPROXX) April 18, 2017